1 in 7 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. 1 in 600 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. This year we expect over 3,200 Australians will pass away from breast cancer.

When you sit around enjoying a Sunday drink with 6 of your mates, it’s a pretty confronting thought to know it’s likely one of you will end up dealing with breast cancer at some point in your life. You secretly hope it’s not you, and you pray that whoever gets the short straw will live.

October is breast cancer awareness month, and as many of our app readers would know, this one is a personal one for me. If I tell my story and it saves just one life by making someone proactive about their breast checks, then it is worth my time sharing.

As anyone that has had a cancer diagnosis knows, your world stops for a while, your head is in a fog, and your nights are filled with ‘what if’s’. It’s a feeling that is hard to describe, but if you have ever been told you have the big ‘C’ you will know exactly what I mean.

Susie with Raelene Boyle (Australian Olympic legend) at BCNA (Breast Cancer Network Australia) event. Pink ladies honouring our friends that have died from the disease.

Besides the ‘what if’ conversations in your own head, telling your loved ones that you have cancer is one of the toughest things you will ever have to do in your life. Is it because you are saying that you have cancer out loud and that makes it more real, or is it the reaction you get? Telling our 8-year-old daughter was tricky, she couldn’t help but presume it meant I was going to die. Our 6-year-old was too scared to touch me in case she caught it. Our 3-year-old didn’t understand why after surgery I could not pick her up for a cuddle. Then telling my Mum and Dad and older brothers was just awful. There is that unspoken rule that when your time is up, the oldest go first. Just writing about it floods the memories back and this year marks 10 years for me.

Through testing and treatment, no matter how supportive your support crew are, it is a lonely road. There is a lot of time in your head, and a lot of time convincing your loved ones you are doing fine, and all will be ok, even when you doubt it yourself. It’s pretty hard to be honest, as doing so often upsets those around you. 

Less than a year after my diagnosis I trained as a BCNA Ambassador and set up Aldinga Breast Cancer support group. Partly for my own support and partly because until I was diagnosed, I ignorantly thought it was an ‘older’ woman’s disease. A safe place for breast cancer patients and supporters to be frank and honest, ask questions, cry, celebrate the wins, get support from others that really know…giving us the strength to move onto the next day and keep our brave face for our loved ones.

I am one of the lucky ones. I made my own luck. I had an Aunty diagnosed with breast cancer in her early 50’s, which made me much more aware of the disease. I knew that it was possible to go to Breast Screen SA and be screened for breast cancer from the age of 40. I turned 40 and booked myself in, just because I could. My surgeon told me I dodged a bullet. I had breast cancer, but it was at the earliest possible stage to detect. This means there was no lump, no chance of the cancer cells having escaped into my system. I was lucky. My young family was lucky. 10 years on I am back on the 1 in 7 statistics band wagon, lets hope my luck continues.

If this story encourages just one person to check their breasts or book into Breast Screen SA for a free mammogram, I have done my job.

Raising awareness for the Pink Lady, who represents BCNA

Resources:

Have you been diagnosed with breast cancer or supporting someone that has been, I cannot recommend the BCNA website for online support groups, researched information about breast cancer and all forms of. They were my lifeline.

www.bcna.org.au

Recently diagnosed? www.myjourney.org.au

Online support groups www.onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au

Aldinga Breast Cancer Support Group

www.cancersa.org.au

www.nbcf.org.au 

www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au

www.canceraustralia.gov.au